In the latest episode of the Business Club podcast, hosted by the President of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, Branko Azeski, the guest was Viktor Mizo, General Manager of Kostal Macedonia DOO Ohrid, as well as President of the Foreign Investors Council (FIC) and the Association of Foreign Companies with Technologically Advanced Production, both operating within the Economic Chamber. Mizo discussed the new approach needed today to attract foreign investors to our country. He also elaborated on the role of FIC, which was established in 2006 on the initiative of Branko Azeski, aiming to represent foreign investors in Macedonia, improve the investment climate, and promote economic development through open dialogue with government institutions and business stakeholders, as well as through proposals, best practices, and active reform initiatives.

According to Mizo, whose company Kostal Macedonia is a German manufacturer of automotive components, it is not only necessary to create a new strategy but also to adopt a new mindset regarding how to attract new foreign investors to the country. He emphasized that Macedonia is a small country with very limited resources today.

"Fifteen years ago, companies were not as constrained, despite our country being small. Unemployment levels were significantly different compared to today. People are emigrating, which means that the capacity to attract labor-intensive companies no longer exists. We need detailed sectoral and industrial mapping to determine the types of companies we want to attract. The heavy concentration of the automotive industry in the country is not ideal because this sector has been in crisis since 2019, and that crisis will continue. Therefore, we must consider how existing companies in the country can transform their operations—shifting from labor-intensive to capital-intensive businesses that create higher added value. These companies must optimize resources, employ fewer people, but develop advanced technologies, automation, robotics, and digitalization—a process that is far from easy." – Viktor Mizo

In the podcast, Mizo also shared insights into his personal and professional background. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in the USA, followed by a master’s in business administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School in Boston, USA. Speaking about Harvard University, he noted that the institution reflects the American capitalist system, where students learn through real-world business case studies.

His professional career began as a vehicle systems design engineer at Magna in Syracuse, USA. He later held positions at major global corporations, including General Electric (GE) in Erie, USA, as well as McKinsey, Trusthedge, and AmOnly. Upon returning to Macedonia, with the goal of bringing back his expertise from the USA, he served as General Director of the Agency for Foreign Investments and Export Promotion in Skopje, later becoming General Director of the Directorate for Technological Industrial Development Zones (DTIDZ).

When asked about his hometown, Ohrid, Mizo highlighted the need for greater promotion of the city's natural beauty, cultural heritage, and history. However, he stressed that the focus should not be on mass tourism but rather on elite tourism, targeting sophisticated guests. He also emphasized the importance of educating local residents to enhance service quality, infrastructure, and tourism capacity.